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The translator of this book is a professor of Buddhist studies and aikido instructor at the Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, Japan.

After a brief introduction by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, a detailed description of O'Sensei's life, along with photos, follows. Invaluable for understanding how aikido evolved into the art it is today.

Several of the Founder's poems are included, followed by numerous photos of O'Sensei demonstrating techniques against armed and unarmed students. Includes descriptions and instructions from the Founder himself.

John Stevens does a flawless job of organizing and presenting this invaluable material to the reader. Priceless. (I never loan this book to anyone!)

The original work was published and circulated in 1938, before the beginning of the use of the name Aikido. According to the translator this is the only training manual for which O Sensei actually posed for the illustrative photos.

A selection of poems and his writings on BUDO give insight to O Sensei's developing philosophy. The photos and descriptions of the techniques are brief and to the point. The author, O Sensei, fully intended the actual training to be supervised by qualified instructors. But he says "The instructor can only impart a small portion of the teaching; only through ceaseless training can you...make each technique your own."

Doshu's introduction is a brief biography of the founder and history of the development of the art of Aikido, complete with historic photos. There is little information here that is not available elsewhere, but the introduction does put the actual training manual in proper context and is therefore valuable information as it is presented.

This is a wonderful book in it's historic and philosophical aspect. The photos of O Sensei in his youth are fascinating. The book's main value, however is the point that Aikido is a martial art and BUDO is a way of life. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone who feels that Aikido is "a lot like dancing", not a martial art. It illustrates the foundation techniques from which Aikido developed. O Sensei starts the explanation of each technique by saying "Fill yourself with KI and invite the attack."

Though I'm not a big fan of John Stevens (who compiled this book), it has been excellently produced.

This is not the book a beginner would buy to look at techniques - it is a book you buy to see how Ueshiba looked when he was doing techniques and what were the core techniques he taught, as well as the emphasis he placed on different aspects of aikido. I found it very interesting to see how direct and forceful Ueshiba was, making comments such as 'In real combat hit your opponent with full force'. If you really want to know what Ueshiba considered his own aikido to be you need this book (though he obviously furhter developed his views on aikido after completion of this book).

Though I'm not a big fan of John Stevens (who compiled this book), it has been excellently produced.

This is not the book a beginner would buy to look at techniques - it is a book you buy to see how Ueshiba looked when he was doing techniques and what were the core techniques he taught, as well as the emphasis he placed on different aspects of aikido. I found it very interesting to see how direct and forceful Ueshiba was, making comments such as 'In real combat hit your opponent with full force'. If you really want to know what Ueshiba considered his own aikido to be you need this book (though he obviously furhter developed his views on aikido after completion of this book).